Barbados names Rihanna ‘National Hero’ as country becomes world’s newest republic

Barbadian president, Sandra Mason and musician, Rihanna BRIDGETOWN, Dec 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Rihanna was conferred with a national hero honor by her home nation of Barbados during the country’s historic republic declaration ceremony on Tuesday. The event was held in the capital city of Bridgetown, and the acclaimed R&B singer…

Uganda says it launched joint raids with DRC against ADF

Congolese soldiers patrol the village of Mwenda, recently attacked by the Allied Democratic Forces, in Rwenzori Sector, northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo KAMPALA, Dec 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Ugandan military has said it launched joint air and artillery raids with forces from the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)…

US imposes visa restrictions on nine Cuban officials

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken WASHINGTON, Dec 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States imposed visa restrictions against nine Cuban officials over their government’s crackdown on demonstrators earlier this month, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said. Blinken accused the officials, including high-ranking members of the Ministry of Interior and Revolutionary…

Covid-19: Second Omicron case confirmed in Spain, two more suspected

MADRID, Dec 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Spain detected a second case of the Omicron coronavirus variant on Tuesday and expects to confirm another two by the end of the week, while Basque authorities said they planned to declare a health emergency amid a rapidly rising caseload. In Madrid, a 61-year-old woman…

Covid-19: Ecuador to keep land border with Peru shut to try stop Omicron spread as Brazil reports two cases

QUITO, Dec 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ecuador’s foreign ministry said that it would keep the country’s border with Peru closed in an effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus’ Omicron variant. Peru announced that as of Dec 1, it would open its land border for residents and non-residents coming from Ecuador…

US shooting: Three students dead, eight wounded in high school shooting

OXFORD (Michigan, US), Dec 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A 15-year-old student opened fire at his Michigan high school on Tuesday, killing three teenagers and wounding eight other people before surrendering to police, authorities said, in what was the deadliest school shooting in the United States so far this year. One teacher was…

Covid-19: Air travellers to US likely to face tougher testing

Currently, vaccinated international air travellers can present a negative test result obtained within three days WASHINGTON, Dec 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Biden administration is likely to impose stricter COVID-19 testing rules for air travelers entering the United States amid concerns about a new COVID-19 variant, sources briefed on the matter…

Barbados declared a republic, removing Queen Elizabeth II

Barbados’ first president Sandra Mason, stands after being sworn in at midnight BRIDGETOWN, Dec 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Barbados formally declared itself the world’s newest republic at the stroke of midnight, as the Caribbean island nation removed Queen Elizabeth II as head of state in a solemn ceremony Tuesday attended by…

Covid-19: Russian Pres Putin calls for mutual approval of vaccines

   MOSCOW, Dec 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russian President Vladimir Putin called for mutual recognition of vaccines against the coronavirus to  help curtail the pandemic, as concern grows around the world about the fast-spreading Omicron variant.     Speaking at a Russian investment forum by video link, Putin said that countries can “effectively…

Azerbaijan says 14 dead in military helicopter crash

  BAKU, Dec 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Fourteen people died in an Azerbaijani military helicopter crash which went down in the east of the Caucasus country during a training flight, officials said.    “Fourteen people died and two more were wounded as a result of a state border service helicopter crash,”…